Craig Redmon, First District State Representative, recently visited Scotland County Hospital on National Rural Health Day. Hospital CEO, Marcia Dial, gave him a tour of the Hospital expansion project while they discussed the important role Scotland County Hospital plays in meeting the healthcare needs of residents in Missouri's First District; the only hospital in the District. National Rural Health Day was coordinated by the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health - Center for Health Equity - Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.

Scotland County Hospital in Memphis observed the first National Rural Health Day on November 17th. The goal of National Rural Health Day is to increase awareness of rural health-related issues and highlight the values of living and working in rural communities.

Approximately 62 million people - one in five Americans - live in rural areas. In Missouri 89.4 percent of Missouri's land is located within rural counties with approximately 2.22 million Missourians - 37 percent of Missouri's population - live in rural areas. Missouri's primary care services are provided by 68 rural hospitals, 365 certified rural health clinics and nearly 180 federally qualified community-based health care delivery sites.

Scotland County Hospital is designated as a Critical Access Hospital (Critical Access is a designation by the federal government that recognizes rural hospitals as being "critical" in meeting the healthcare needs of the local community) and owns and operates three rural health clinics in three counties in Northeast Missouri.

"Health care needs cannot be addressed in a one size fits all approach," said Marcia Dial, CEO, Scotland County Hospital. "Each rural community is made up differently, and to meet the needs of our community, Scotland County Hospital officials & leaders continue to identify and address the unique needs of our residents."

Health care plays a vital role for many rural communities. The local health care delivery systems in many rural areas of Missouri are often met with various challenges including recruitment and retention of needed professionals.

"Because health care continues to change, we must be flexible in order to best serve our residents," said Dial "Using our resources efficiently, improving operational efficiencies, and highlighting our great community to attract professionals is important in providing essential health care services."

For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Office of Primary Care and Rural Health website at health.mo.gov/living/families/ruralhealth/index.php.